Three members of the Edo State House of Assembly have dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), in a development that could reshape the political landscape ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The lawmakers are Charity Aiguobarhueghian, representing Ovia North-East I Constituency; Natasha Osawaru, representing Egor Constituency; and Omosigho Frank, representing Oredo East Constituency.
Their defection was formally communicated to the Assembly by the Edo State Chairman of the NDC, Babatunde Olukoga, who notified Speaker Blessing Agbebaku of the lawmakers’ decision to join the party.
Olukoga also announced the nomination of Natasha Osawaru as the new Minority Leader and Omosigho Frank as the Minority Whip in the Assembly.
“This is to notify the Edo State House of Assembly of the defection of three members to the NDC. We are also informing the House of those who have been nominated as officers of the minority in the Assembly.”
The latest development is expected to strengthen the NDC’s position in Edo State, with political observers suggesting the party could emerge as the leading opposition platform in the state ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, the move was not without controversy.
The Majority Leader of the House, Jonathan Ibhamawu, challenged the process through which the NDC communicated the defections, arguing that the affected lawmakers should first formally announce their departure from their former parties on the floor of the House before any notification from their new political party.
“The NDC’s letter did not follow due process.”
Following the objection, Speaker Agbebaku stepped down consideration of the letter but assured members that the matter would be revisited once all necessary procedures had been followed.
“The requests will be considered once due process has been followed.”
The defections come amid increasing political realignments across the country as parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 elections.
Political analysts say the movement of lawmakers from both the APC and PDP into the NDC could signal growing dissatisfaction within the major parties and may encourage more defections in the coming months.
With the latest development, attention is now focused on whether additional lawmakers or political stakeholders in Edo State will join the emerging opposition platform before the next electoral cycle.
Source: Tribune
